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About Me

Married to my soulmate with 2 beautiful girls,and our English Springer Spaniel, Suki. Living a country life in Cambridgeshire, whilst baking, gardening, and photographing our daily lifes, where they find a place on my scrapbook pages.

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My little place on the web

This blog is just that, my little place on the web.You will find my daily (or not so daily, hehe)life, my love for my new vegetable garden, baking, photography and my scrapbooking!

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My Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a way of life for me now.It has been for over 4 years. I love journaling, taking photos of my family and love colour and texture, these are all part of my everyday life and scrapbooking.

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Rosemary Pesto

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/29/2009 06:22:00 PM 1 lovely comments
I am a huge fan of Pesto, especially Basil pesto, in fact until not long ago, I thought that's what a Pesto sauce was; Basil, pine nuts, oil, garlic and some Parmesan cheese. Well apparently not... you can use other herbs and other nuts! So I experimented and tried a Rosemary and pecan nut Pesto, and it is, or was, absolutely delicious!

You will need:






1/3cup of fresh Rosemary. I have this stuff growing in abundance in my garden!
1 1/2 cups of fresh Parsley
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup pecan or walnuts
1/2 cup olive oil
seasoning


Next...

Wash the rosemary and take of the stalks. Chop
Combine all ingredients into a food processor and and blend
Boil some pasta al dante and add a tablespoon of Rosemary pesto and enjoy!



Tomorrow I will be doing a review for Photo Paper Direct. Ran sent me some photo card to play with, and I will have the results tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna xx

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Pencil Lines

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/28/2009 03:31:00 PM 4 lovely comments
Pencil Lines sketch 154 went live last night with guest designer Stacey Cohen. Stacey's work is beautiful and chock full of lovely little details.
I used some old photos of Izzy and Peter from 6 years ago! I have scrapped one of these photos before. I decided to use 6 smaller photo's instead of the 3 photos the sketch asked for.
I used more of my Kenner Road August kit. Some Pink Paislee and American Crafts, as well as EAD Designs scrapbook rubons. I used the mushrooms on my layout.




Pop on over to Pencil Lines to see what the rest of the DT did with Stacey's sketch. This months sponsor is EAD Designs, which the DT got to play with this week.




This week I will be sharing some recipes that I will be using with local and homegrown produce. Expect some apple and tomato relish, blackberry jam, rosemary pesto and an apple pie/crumble or maybe a tart or two!

Thanks for stopping,
Hugs
Anna x

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Birthday Week

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/27/2009 01:48:00 PM 2 lovely comments

Well she turned 9 on Monday and partied all week!!

Monday we went shopping for Izzy's bike and a McDonald's, and then we came home to open her presents.
Due to the postal strike, Izzy had a week of envelopes arriving with birthday money.

Friday was a her slumber party, with 2 of her best friends invited to have dinner at F&B's, cinema to see fame (don't waste your money, not a legwarmer in site!!!), and then home for a girly night of face masks, toenail painting, pillow fights and hot chocolate, with some singing thrown in!!!
I spent the afternoon putting together slumber party goodie bags. Which consisted of eye masks, lip gloss, nail polish, chocolate, hair bits, bling and more! They sure know how to party! After a dissapointing 2 hours seeing Fame, we drove home, with Estelle blaring from the CD player and all 5 of us girls (yes I am including myself amongst the girls, LOL), singing at the top of our voices, American Boy! Arrived home, PJ's and then the night of slumber fun begin, oh to be young again; I was in bed and asleep before these 4 girls were!


I think you can tell from the photo montage that a good night was had by all, and I foresee a mini album in the making!!



Pencil Lines goes live tonight, here's a sneak of my layout using some more Kenner Road loveliness and this months sponsor!




Enjoy the sunshine! We are, and still enjoying our homegrown tomatoes!
Hugs

Anna xx

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A conversation with Lilly....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/24/2009 05:29:00 PM 2 lovely comments

Don't kids just say the most amazing things! Mine are getting a bit too old for the cute stuff now, but they still amaze me. Every day when I pick the girls up from school, the first thing Izzy asks, is how my day went, and asks about the children I work with. Always makes me smile.

Lilly is a mini philosopher some days, and is still making me smile with her words of wisdom and BIG questions, like

" Why did God make this planet so wonderful?"

and me asking Lilly "Why are you so beautiful?"

Lilly : "Because God made me this way" just melts me every time.


Today we have had the following conversation, actually I say conversation but I didn't start talking, Lilly just talking her words of wisdom and thoughts...

Lilly : "I asked Miss Castell Evans today why school is so interesting. Why is it Mummy? Is your school learning interesting things?"

A baffled me has no intelligent answer and just blurts " Learning is fun " not an answer is it, LOL


Lilly returns about 10 minutes later...

Lilly : "Writing is joyful mummy, I love writing. You can write interesting stuff if you want, and you can make it make sense"

"Look at all my writing Mummy. I have wrote lots! and I have capital letters and full stops, AND it even makes sense!"


Oh boy that end bits cracks me up! Today my form teacher told the children, that lots of writing that isn't good sentences is not as good as a few, "wicked and wonderful" sentences. (our whole school focus!) So this really made me laugh, as it looks like Miss Castell Evans has said the same at some point, hence Lilly's amazement that all her sentences make sense! or so she tells me.

Aww bless our little ones!

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs
Anna xx

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Shabu Shabu

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/22/2009 10:20:00 PM 4 lovely comments
Well my plans to return to the computer this afternoon never materialized, and now I am in bed trying to keep my eyes opened, so I can blog the weekend, before its the next weekend, LOL!



I seem to be so busy, I cannot remember the last time I actually came home from work and sat down! Every day for the past week I have had something on, or some where to go!


Yesterday was Izzy's birthday and I didn't even managed a birthday photo of her, I am absolutely gutted :(. My Izzy is now a very grown up 9 year old. She is having a party on Friday so I will make up for it then. She has 2 friends invited, with Frankie and Benny's for dinner, and then we are off to the cinema to see Fame! Then home for a slumber party....








Back to the weekend just gone! Peter and I were in London to see Ross Noble, a Geordie comedian, at The Apollo Theatre. We arrived in the afternoon to do a spot of shopping and to have dinner. We opted for China Town as it was just around the corner from the Theatre. We both love Japanese and decided on Sushi for dinner. But as we checked out the menu we spotted Shabu Shabu, that was being served upstairs.






Shabu-shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ, , also spelled syabu-syabu?) is a Japanese variant of hot pot. The dish is related to sukiyaki in style, where both use thinly sliced meat and vegetables, and usually served with dipping sauces. However, it is starkly different in taste as it more closely resembles its predecessor, the Chinese hot pot; shabu-shabu is more savory and less sweet than sukiyaki. It is considered a winter dish but is eaten year-round.

And a good Japenese meal has to be enjoyed with a good Japanese Beer!!



After our delicious meal we headed off for an evening of side splitting laughter with Ross Noble, we were not disappointed!

Sunday was crop day, and we had a little party for Sue's birthday. I managed to get nothing done as usual. I did teach a layout class using the new Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday ( layout to follow tomorrow).
Sunday also means Pencil Lines, and sketch 153 went live with Debbie Nicholas.




I used my Kenner Road kit for my layout. I love this photo of Lilly. My beautiful girl and her beautiful smile.






I am totally exhausted, and must apologize to my ladies doing the "Snapshot of my Life" as I haven't put this months prompt up! I am usually all ahead with the prompts, timed! This month has been hectic and emotional, not an excuse, I know.

Thanks for stopping by. I am hoping to find the energy to catch up on some jam and chutney making! Just received a huge bag of windfall apples!!

Hugs,
Anna xx

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Viral Arthritis

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/22/2009 08:18:00 AM 0 lovely comments
has taken hold on me this week so far, hence no updates! I have promised myself after work today I am coming home to update on:

Shabu Shabu
Izzy turning 9!!
Pencil Lines
Class layout

So do pop back later this afternoon!

Hope everyone is well
Hugs
Anna xx

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Crazy Busy

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/19/2009 10:13:00 AM 2 lovely comments

It has been a crazy busy week, I don't feel like my feet have touched the ground, and it will be like this next week too! And the weekend is no different , LOL

The morning has started manic. Jumped out of bed to put the over due washing in the machine, baking brownies for a certain party tomorrow! I am now finalising my class layout for Sunday's crop. the girls are off to Nana's at lunch time whilst Peter and I head off to London town to see Ross Noble at the Apollo Theatre.

I am going to breath now, end this post, and hopefully catch up with you all tomorrow with photos galore from the crop, London and Pencil Lines!

Have a great Saturday

Hugs

Anna xx

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Look who's 40!!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/17/2009 03:16:00 PM 3 lovely comments

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE!!


Sue is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people you could meet. I am one very lucky gal, to have met Sue and be able to call her a friend; not just any friend but a best friend.

When I am having a low day and times are tough, the postman seems to always come laden with a little pick me up note and a bar of galaxy! This woman has the broadest shoulders, for letting me pour my sorrows onto!
We have the best girlie days out, shopping, cake and more shopping, with lots of laughs thrown in. A photo shoot in a Poppy field springs to mind as a very funny day out!
Sue is my right hand girl when it comes to business, without Sue their would never be a retreat! I am useless and so disorganized, LOL. Sue is always organized with files, labels and petty cash tins, aahhh what would i do without you hun.

On a sadder note, this year is the first year we have not spent together meeting up for lunch and pud, on her birthday..... boo hoo I have to go to work!

I hope to make it up to you on Sunday!

Hope you have a wonderful day hunny!

Hugs

Anna xx

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A Trip Down Memory Lane....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/16/2009 10:50:00 AM 5 lovely comments
Take yourself back a few years, or in my case a few decades!!, and think fingers and thumbs and a length of Mum's wool. What do you get?





A Cats Cradle!
Izzy has been obsessed with a length of wool and an instructional book to make not just the Cats Cradle as I remember it, but also the Eiffel Tower, Jacobs Ladder and many more!





It makes a change from the usual DS games! Do you remember any school kid games played with nothing more than a conker etc! It does seem these days kids do not enjoy the simple things in life, like us parents did!!, Oh yes, back in the good olde days!!

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs,
Anna xx

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3 Years gone....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/15/2009 10:58:00 AM 6 lovely comments

but not forgotton......Still as dear to me my darling Dad, even though you are no longer with me.



I miss you dad, I am lonely without you. I am devastated that you were taken from me. I am angry that you had to suffer so. It was hard to see you in your torment and pain. But that’s not how I will remember you.I will always remember you full of life and warmth and kindness. I will remember the laughter and the love. I will remember the precious time we shared. I will remember your vitality and your generosity.Your death left a gaping hole in my life. But hard as it is to be without you, I take comfort in the knowledge that you are at last in peace and free of pain.
Rest in peace dad.
God bless you.
All my Love
Anna xx

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Pencil Lines Catch up!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/14/2009 06:03:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Did you know that Pencil Lines is nearly 3 years old?! Yep, its our 3rd birthday next month, and we will be partying all month!!We have fab RAKs up for grabs, competitions and tonnes of inspiration.
Last night sketch 152 went live, with guest designer Janine Koczwara. I provided this weeks sketch.

I have been a tad mojoless these last few weeks. Its that time of year, and everything gets on top of me. I did head into my studio at the weekend and actually enjoyed playing with some older Basic Grey papers, mixing them up with Pink Paislee. I used Pink Paislee stickers and the fabric flower.
Here is my layout for this weeks.
Model





Supplies used :

Basic Grey Urban Prairie papers
Pink Paislee Enchanted stickers and flower
My yellow Bicycle sticker
Transparency clock Heidi Swapp
Artic Frog alpahbet stickers
MM thickers
Bazzill brad


Here is sketch 151 that I havnt shared here yet. This is definitley one of those layouts that looks so much better IRL!.


Tiger Lilly






Supplies used :

Sassafrass Lass Bungle Jungle
Fancy Pants Summer Soiree
MM thickers
May Arts Ribbons

I have had a very busy day; morning at school, then the afternoon I am teaching at Hunts Mind again. Tonight I have a Tutors Conference to attend for Huntingdonshire College! I should arrve home around 9.30pm, and I will be heading straight for my bed!

Hope your Monday was a good one.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

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Farewell Summer

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/13/2009 05:09:00 PM 4 lovely comments
I believe we have just enjoyed the last of our British Summer, this weekend. This last week has been glorious, a proper Indian summer, which I must confess is the norm as soon as the kids return to school !



After a quick check of the weather forecast (BBC of course!), for this weekend, it was forecast to be a corker, and probably the last. So with that in mind, well we just had to have a farewell BBQ with friends to celebrate the last day of the summer. And we did just that! Mike, Mel and the kids turned up at 3pm, we opened the Magners and Bulmers, the barbie got started at about 5pm, with lots of fresh produce from the garden( i am so chuffed with myself, LOL), and then a good 6 hours (!!) on RockBand to end the night.


This morning we woke feeling a little tired, and then the compulsory cooked breakfast!
I love weekends like this, they are just perfect!

I have managed to venture into my studio this weekend o do my Pencil Lines layout. Sketch 152 goes live tonight, 8pm GMT, 1pm MST.
Here is a sneak of my layout.


Hope you all had a lovely weekend, how did you spend the last of the Summer?

Hugs and thanks for stopping by
Anna x

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